Monoclonal antibody, hybridoma, their production and use thereof

Abstract

A monoclonal antibody is produced from a cloned hybridoma, and the monoclonal antibody combines specifically with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Therefore, the monoclonal antibody can be advantageously used for assay reagents on bFGF or for purification of bFGF.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A method for detecting or measuring basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), which comprises using, as antibody, a monoclonal antibody which combines specifically with bFGF and has the characteristics: (a) it has molecular weight of about 140 to 160 kilodaltons,   (b) it does not cross-react with acidic fibroblast growth factor,   (c) it belongs to the immunoglobulin class IgM or IgG, and   (d) it is capable of detecting human bFGF in a concentration of at least 0.5 ng/ml of bFGF by E/A method.   
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monoclonal antibody is bound to human bFGF containing the amino acid sequence:   Phe-Phe-Leu-Arg-Ile-His-Pro-Asp-Gly-Arg-Val-Asp-Gly-Val-Arg-Glu-Lys-Ser-Asp-Pro.